Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah assured the traders' community of Karachi on Thursday that he would present their point of view on whether or not to lift the lockdown in the next National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the coronavirus crisis in the country.
He said this while talking to a delegation of traders in a meeting held at the CM House. The delegation comprised industrialist Qasim Siraj Teli, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Agha Shahab, KCCI Senior Vice President Arshad Islam, All Pakistan Restaurants Association Chairperson Ather Chawla, Mian Zahid and Khurram Ijaz of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, business magnate Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Pakistan Hairdressers and Beauticians Association vice president Saeeda Mehmood Mandviwalla and Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla.
The traders urged the chief minister to lift the restrictions and allow all the business activities to continue in the province, assuring him of following the SOPs as agreed earlier.
The chief minister said that the imposition of the lockdown was not his personal decision but it was taken by the federal government in consultation with the provinces. He assured the traders' community that he would present their point of view in the next NCC meeting to be held before May 31.
Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, Excise Minister Mukesh Chawla and Industries Minister Ikramullah Dharejo were also present in the meeting. The lockdown will be in effect till May 31.